I had gotten on Groupon.com and saw a hiking option at Adventure Zip Kansas City. Since I enjoy hiking I jumped at the opportunity to see some place new! The thing I missed was that it was an obstacle boot camp!!! There was a lot of confusion as to what the Groupon coupon actually included. The rest of the group thought they were zip lining that day. Our guide, James, said we wouldn't be zip lining today, just hiking and he got us pumped up for the trip. However, his excitement was a bit misleading to what was ahead. We hiked for a little bit as he showed us one of the first zip lines and talked about the vegetation and life that he has come across since working at Adventure Zip Kansas City. Then we came to a muddy pit where you had to hang on ropes and zip line across to safety on the other side. "Uummm. Seriously? I have NO upper body strength! And I'm not a fan of landing in the mud pit right off the bat. I like these clothes..." said my brain. Yet there was no way around. Well....here goes! And I made it a little more than 3/4 a way across. Shoes got a little caked, but I had survived. Go me! Then we were off again. Next came a large pile of rocks and the goal was to not step where someone else had stepped. "Seriously?" said my brain. "Hush!" I said. "We used to love this as a kid! We've got this!" Turns out we didn't have it as well as we remembered and I lost my balance more often than not but I made it. Sweat was everywhere and bugs were swarming despite having bug spray on, but off we went again. Every time I started to enjoy myself with the hiking portion we'd come across something that I was pretty sure was designed to punish and kill me. What was next? A tilted bus that you had to not only struggle with balance to climb through, but the view point messed with your perception and made you dizzy! "Awesome" said my brain sarcastically. "You could be a little more positive" I said. "You're so out of shape it's not funny" she snarled. "Enough!" I said. And although it took me longer than most I did it! "Ha!" I said. "You're not even half way through" my brain smiled wickedly. And off we went again. This was an ongoing battle throughout the entire 2.5 hike. James noticed I grew slower and fell farther behind so he automatically stopped leading and came to my aid in the back. Other people noticed too and in this group of strangers I found all of them cheering me on and yelling things like "You can do it!" and I loved them all instantly. I climbed up AND down through the tilted bus. I crossed logs that covered mud pits, were a teeter tauter and required a huge amount of balance. As I lost more energy and stamina, I will be honest and tell you I couldn't quite do EVERYTHING that was placed in front of me. My body was too weak to allow it. However, the ongoing love of a group of strangers encouraged me to keep going and do absolutely everything I possibly could! Not even my negative, shady brain was going to discourage me! By the end, there wasn't a piece of my clothing that was not drenched in sweat, my boots were caked in mud, I was covered in mosquito bites, and I was completely exhausted with no energy left in me. But I did it. I survived Adventure Zip Kansas City, and I am even determined to return in the fall and try zip lining! Talk about being outside my comfort zone....I'm terrified of heights! However, my experience at Adventure Zip Kansas City has made me realize that I have GOT to get into shape. It also made me realize just how much I love doing Chasing Stormi. I was telling everyone why I was doing this boot camp from hell hike and they were just as excited as I was about it! I even got everyone to do a group photo with me in the end. They were good sports... :) So if you see the "Hike in Bonner Springs at Adventure Zip KC" on Groupon.com, know that you need hiking boots, you need LOTS of bug spray, you're going to get your butt kicked if you're not in any shape of any kind, you won't be doing zip line, you will want your camel back if you own one, and you will be surrounded by amazing encouraging people to help you along the way. So strap on your books and get going because YOU'VE GOT THIS!#survivingourstorms​#chasingstormiadventures

Leave a Reply.

Chasing Stormi

A girl just trying to find her way, stepping outside of her comfort zone, trying new things, and making new friends along the way!

Join us today and never miss out on future adventures!

Looking to stay on top of all of the adventures Chasing Stormi LLC will be participating in and providing? Fill out the form below, and be added to our email list so you will never miss out on an adventure!